Compressor unit



F. J. HEIDEMAN COMPRESSR UNIT May `28, 1935.

4 sheets-sheet 1 Filed June 4, 1931 ge@ @@@QQQQQ 666%@ /zLsA 'TTORNE Y May 28, 1935. AF. J. HEIDEMAN COMPRESSOR UNIT Filed June 4, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lillllllllllllffll l5 /L'SA TORNEY May 28, 1935. |=I J, HEIDEMAN 2,002,575

. COMPRESSOR UNIT Filed June 4, 1951 4 sheets-sheet s May 28, 1935. F J, HEIDEMAN 2,002,575

COMPRESSOR UNI'T Filed June 4, 1931 4 Sheets-sheet 4 7 @ai/erick cf 53A TTORNE J' I Patented May 28, I1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

COMPRESSOR UNIT Frederick .L Heideman, Rochester, N. Y. Application June 4, 1931, Serial No. 542,181

14 Claims.

My present invention relates to electric refrigerating units, such as the motor driven installations designed for domestic use, and it has for its object to provide a small compact refrigerating plant having the general proportionsof the ordinary icebox and which will operate quietly and withoutnoticeablevibration. Myimprovedrefrigerator embodies the principle of circulating a volatile liquid, such as sulphur dioxide. The evaporation thereof inthe refrigerating chamberlowersthe temperature thereof and the gas is drawn off by a compressor, discharged into a high compression chamber, cooled by exposure to radiation after absorbing the heat incident to compression and thus condensed and liquefied again is returned to the first mentioned chamber. 'I'he improvements are directed in part toward the construction of the compressor itself and particularly a system of controlling valves associated therewith to produce the desired circulation, which valves are of a nature rendering them both extremely durable and quickly effective in action. The improvements are further directed toward the provision of a simple and effective lubricating system for the moving parts, toward the utilization of this lubricating system for reducing the load on the motor until it has picked up speed, and toward a particular mounting of the motor that reduces both noise and friction to a minimum.

To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations 'of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical central section, partly in elevation, through arefrigerating unit constructed in accordance with and illustrating one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section on the "scale of Fig. 2 taken substantially on 'the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragment of the showing of Fig. l; y

Fig. 5 is a transverse fragmentary section taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentarysection taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figi 4;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section, enlarged, taken on the line 'l-l of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the mounting plate;

(cl. 23o-175) Fig. 9 is an enlarged section through the compressor taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 4;

Fig. l0 is a similar View showing the parts in other relative positions and at another point in the cycle of movement;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section on the line Ii-ll of Fig. 9, and

Fig. 12 is a top view of the compressor cylinder block.

' Similar reference numerals throughout the 10 several views indicate the same parts.

The general design of the embodiment. of the invention illustrated contemplates the location of the motor, compressor and condenser on top of the insulated box containing the refrigerating 15 chamber and in the general view of Fig. l, only a portion of the top of the box is shown at l, the refrigerating chamber being indicated generally at 2. 'Ihis upper outer wall of the box may be of the usual or any desired heat insulating construc- 20 tion but for the purposes of my invention, it is provided with a large circular central Well or opening '3, through which the heat-absorbing element of my machine depends from the connected structure of the aforesaid elements resting 25 on top, all beingin an assembled unit. To these ends, the well is spanned and covered by amounting plate or table 4, its marginal contact with the top of the box l being made air-tight of its own Weight by a suitable packing ring or gasket 5. Se- 30 cured to flanges 6 on the underside of the plate is a cylindrical casing 't' that is preferably of about the thickness of the top l and similarly heat-insulated, as by a filling of balsam wool 8. The attachment to the lugs 6 is made through 35 the mediumof side wall Q.

Secured to the table d and extending downwardly through tubes Hl in the member 'l are a plurality of posts ll having nuts l2 at their lower ends supporting hanger brackets i3. These 4@ latter are fastened to the heat-absorbing unit Het, which is thus suspended close to the top of the refrigerating chamber 2. Itis shown in the present embodiment provided with a central open` ended chamber l5 for the accommodation of Vthe 45 usual ice trays lli.

The element M has double walls il and it forming a jacket surrounding the chamber l5, and in this chamber, to a level indicated approximately at L in Fig. l, the liquid body of sul- 5c phur dioxide or corresponding heat transfer element is collected and maintained as delivered from the condenser hereinafter described. The proper and desired level is established and kept substantially uniform inthe following manner.

A drain pipe i3 extending downwardly from the condenser through a tube 23 in element 'i is connected byan elbow 2i with a head 22 in one end of the liquid container i3. The head is provided with a valve seat 23 opened and closed by the horizontal movement lof a needle valve 2li. 'I'his needle valve is pivoted at 25 to an upwardly extending -arm 23 projecting rigidly from a hinge bracket 2l fixed to a float 28 and pivoted at 29 to a lug on the headv22. When the level of the liquid vL drops suiciently, the float28 will obviously drop with it and withdraw or open the valve 23, feeding in more liquid that is meanwhile collected in the drain pipe i9. When the level has been restored, the valve, of course, is closed in the manner of any float control. Lowering movement of the float to a degree greater than is necessary to adequately open the valve is prevented by a stop lip 30 on the hinge bracket 21 which abuts against the lug carrying the pivot 29.

The condenser itself is shown to consist of a cylindrical body of helically coiled pipe 3i of suitable capacity and radiating surface which is enclosed within and'suitably mounted on a surrounding protecting grid or cage 32 resting on the box top l through a `band 33, through which grid air is free to circulate. The aforesaid drain pipe 9 extends through the table 3 and connects with the lower convolutionnf the condenser pipe at 33, whereas the intake pipe 35, the connections of which will be hereinafter explained, connects with or forms a continuation of the top convolution. The range of piping is such that there is always sufficient liquid backed up therein to supply the heat-absorbing element it.

The motor and compressor are hermetically sealed. within a dome 36 constituting the compression chamber. 'It embodies a base pan 37 supported upon the table 3 through the medium of coiled compression springs 38 upon the table d, headed guide bolts 39 being secured in spring centering lugs lill and extending slidably through the table in spring centering depressions il i. The

structure is thus held against lateral displace-` ment while floating resiliently on the springs. This is to absorb vibration from the motor and other moving parts.

A base plate 32 is secured to the bottom of the base pan 3i as by the screws 33 and supported uponit in accurately spaced relationshipis a casting forming a superstructure lili. It is spaced by means of spacing sleeves 35 and secured rigidly to the base plate 32 by bolts i6 extending through the sleeves. A hub lii rising centrally from and integral with the superstructure 33 provides a long vertical bearing for the direct drive crank shaft 33 of the motor to behereinafter described. A crank disk 53 on the lower end of this shaft occupying a cavity 53 inthe bearing piece but spaced from the walls thereof carries the crank pin 5l having a bearing in a projecting bearing lug 52 at the head of a reciprocating and oscillating cylinder 53. This cylinder cooperates with, in the usual manner, and is hence guided upon an oscillating piston 53 having a bearing at 55 on a fixed wrist pin 53 secured in and extending between-the base plate i2 and the superstructure M; The cylinder also has a close sliding rit with .both ofthe last mentioned elements, being in the form of a rectangular block, as shown in Fig. 5. The exhaust port for this working couple is indicated at 5l and is normally closed by a wafer valve 53 that occupies a. shallow cavity 53 in a lug 3B adjacent to and communicating with the cav- Aface of the base plate 32.

ity su. n. is hem in p1ace by bending its ends t up over the lug and is displaced by the pressure of exhaust gas against the tension of springs 32 l arranged in pockets above the valve.

The discharge from the compression is thus admitted to the interior of the dome 33 and as the pressure -builds up is discharged through an elbow connection 63 to the intake elbow 35 of the condenser 3l before described. To reduce the heat generated in the compression dome 33 as far as possible before the heated gas enters the condenser, I provide a series of radiating fins 33 on the lateral cylindrical walls of the dome. These are clearly shown in Fig. 2 to consist of hollow U-shaped'ribs having oppositely turned base flanges 35 that abut in adjoining units and may be spot welded to the chamber or dome wall.

To return to the compressor couple, the intake port in the cylinder head 53 is indicated at 66 communicating on the underside of the cylinder block with an arcuate or kidney-shaped pamage or cavity ii'l on the cylinder bearing sur- That is, it is adapted to and does so at times with the oscillation of the cylinder for the motion of the latter relatively to this arcuate passage constitutes the only intake valve element for the compressor, as will be later described. Also communicating withthe passage 6'l from the bottom, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 8, is a passage 63 leading to a cavity or chamber 69 in the base tray 3l, that is sealed by the base block t2 through which the said passage extends, a gasket 'l being provided to be clamped by the screws 33.

1n the bottom of chamber 63 is formed a trap il for a purpose hereinafter explained. This trap is partially covered by a cap plate 'l2 having a central opening 'i3 provided with a surrounding collar that centers a spring 'it which holds a wafer valve 'l5 normally against a valve seat surrounding an opening 'i6 in a boss 'il on the bottom of the base tray 3l and into this boss is threaded a connection 'i8 on the upper end of a pipe 19. This pipe extends through a tube 30 in element l, is looped at 8l to give it flexibility in view of the spring mounting 38 of the base .pan and has an elbow connection 32 communiinder has 'completed its compression or exhausting stroke, as in Fig. 4, the port 38 is in the closed position indicated at A in Fig. 8. It remains closed for an instant as the crank and cylinder move oi of the dead center and then rides into communication with arcuate passage 6l, so that on the quarter point of the cycle it is in the position B. On the next quarter, it remains in open communication until the dead center position C is approached, at which point it closes again and remains closed for the remaining half of the cycle .back to the point A, during which time, of course, the charge of gas is being discharged from port 5l through valve 58 and into the enclosed chamber. It is obvious that this intake charge is drawn from the volatilized gas in the heat absorbing chamber |4 above the liquid through pipe 8| to chamber 69, raising valve 15, to passage 68 and thence to passage 61.

The prime mover for the crank shaft 48 is preferably a split phas-e motor of suitable design contained within the dome 36. It is mounted 4upon the superstructure 44 in the following manner: r

Preferably integral with and rising from the margin of the casting 44 is a circular series of posts 83 carrying an also preferably integral ring 84, upon which ring is supported in a case 85 the eld windings or laminations 86 of the stator. The posts 83 are connected by ribs 81 with the bearing 41. A hub 83 is clamped to the reduced upper end 89 of crank shaft 48 by means of a cap nut 90 and is also preferably splined thereon. It has a bearing on the upper end of the bearing hub 41 and carries the windings or laminations 9| of the rotor. Normally and when the motor is at rest', the rotor and stator are in the relative positionsv of Fig. l, that is, with the former in a lowered position resting on the bearing hub. When energized;V the tendency of the element 9| is to rise and center itself in the magnetic field, of course, raising the crank shaft with it,`which latter `is permitted dueto the before explained freedom of movement of the crank disk 49 in the cavity 50. The motor thus floats freely vertically on the long bearing that the crank shaft is provided with in the bearing member 41, greatly reducing vibration and friction as well. There is no necessity for providing the crank shaft with a thrust bearing.

In sealedmachines of this character, the ma*- ter of lubrication is, of course, an important factor,.and I have provided an improved lubricating system which is so worked in with the gas compressor that it performs .the added function of reducing the load on the motor, initially, or

untilv it has picked up momentum. I win r11-st .describe the oiling system as such.

A body of oil is maintained in the bottom of the gas chamber 36, which means in the base tray 31, at alevel slightly above the bottom of the piston 54. 'Ihis directly lubricates the piston and cylinder of the compressor as well as the bearing of the former onthe wrist pin 56 and the bearing of the cylinder block 53 on the base plate 42. Incorporated in the cylinder block 53 below the compressor piston and offset therefrom, as shown in Figs. 4 an'd 5, is an oil pump cylinder chamber 92 occupied by a piston rod 93. This piston rod likewise has a bearing 94 on the fixed Wrist pin 56 and swings'parallel and in unison with piston 54k with the movements ofthe cylinder block.

'Ihe intake port for this oil pump is in the side of the cylinder block beneath theoil level and, as indicated in dotted line, for instance, in Figs. and 10.' The end of the pump cylinder 92 is in communication with thevertical passage 95 in the cylinder, block (Figs. 4 and 11) plugged at the bottom at 96 and providedwith an intermediate check valve 91. This passage in turn communicates with a transverse horizontal passage and chamber 98 in thecylinder block. A port 99 leads .from chamber 98 tothe bearing of the crank 5|.

The latter is bored axially to form an oil passage |00, lwhich passage is plugged at the bottom and extends, eccentrically of course, quite a distanceinto the crank `shaft 48. A partial circumferential passage |0 on- 'the crank pin registers intermittently for a period on the rotation of the crank with the port or passage 99 and transmits oil therefrom under pressure to axial passage |00 through a radial connecting passage |02. 'I'he oil passes from the upper end of passage |00 through a radial port |03 to a cavity |04 inthe bearing 41 communicating with helical passages |05 formed in the bearing surface of the upper portion of the crank shaft. This last 'named passage nally delivers to the bearing point of the rotor hub 88, where the oil is forced out to drain back into the gas chamber indiscriminately for general lubricating purposes. As the crank shaft is lifted by the rotor, the oil is discharged more freely and is thrown all about.

I now come to an explanation of the manner in which this oiling system or certain elements thereof are utilized toreduce the starting load on the motor. The cross chamber 98 (plugged at both ends, as indicated at |06 and |01) contains a sliding piston valve |08 having a spacing point |09. VA spring |0 reacting against plug |06 normally holds this valve in the position of Figs. 9 and 11, in which it closes the port 99 and prevents the oil column in the crank shaft above that point from running back. 'Ihisiswhenthemechanism is at rest and the stop point |09 abuts the plug |01, so that the oil passage 95 in the oil pump is always open. A diagonalrelief port best shown in Fig. 4, is drilled in the top of the cylinder head 53 to communicate with the chamber 98 in rear of the piston valve in the position'of Fig. 9, said relief port opening into the gas chamber 36. A bypass port ||2 also connects the compression chamber of the cylinder block with chamber 96 opposite the relief port. The operation and function of this (Vgroup of ports, valves and passages is best understood by reference to Fig. 4 and Figs. 9 to 12, and is as follows:

Starting with the position of rest shown in Figs. 9 and 11, when the motor is energized, on

- sion of the gas drawn in from the intake port 66 i occurs because it escapes freely through the bypass port ||2, the chamberv 95 and the relief port I I; In fact, no gas is drawn in at 66 because instead gas under pressure from chamber 36 rushes in through relief port chamber 98 and bypass ||2 on the suction stroke of the compressor. Thus, the pressure is balanced for the time being between the compression chamber and the surrounding gas chamber, and the normal working load is not imposed upon the motor.

In the meantime, however, the oil pump 92-93 operates effectively on the rst movement and starts to build up oil pressure in the chamber 98 in front ofthe piston valve |06.` 'I'he latter, therefore, gradually recedes against the tension of spring ||0 to the position of Fig. 10, in which it opens the oil port 99 to the lubricating ducts of the crank and crank shaft and closes the bypass ||2 and relief port By this time, the

motor has gained sufficient to accept the load and the compressor functions in the normal manner through discharge port 51 and valve 58.- When fact that'the periods of rest are of substantial duration.

The motor is, of course, controlled in the usual manner in such devices by a make andbreak in the field actuated by pressure or the balancing of interior and exterior temperatures, but such devices are so well known to those skilled in the art that it is thought unnecessary to show or describe it herein. 1

The wafer valve Il in the intake gas line and 4supply pipe i9 is for the purpose of trappingl Y fer to make as indicated of expanded metal mesh and eect a fused metallic connection between it and the convolutions of the condenser pipe 3l which it supports, the connection being not necessarily continuous but at frequent intervals. This makes more intimate the thermal conductivity between them, increasing the radiation and distributing the heat absorption. The cage or grid and.condenser so shown in the drawings induces circulation but is designed for use irl/otherwise still air.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a gas compressor for circulatory refrigerating systems, the combination with an oscillatory piston, and a reciprocatory and oscillatory cylinder cooperating therewith and provided with an exhaust port and an intake port, of means in direct relative sliding contact with the cylinder for -opening and closing the intake port embodying a passage having ya form substantially coincident with the path of the intake port as a result of the combined movements of the cylinder.

2. In a gas` compressor for circulatory refrigerating systems, the combination with an oscillatory piston, and a reciprocatory and oscillatory cylinder cooperating therewith and provided with an exhaust port and an intake-port, of a base block upon. which the cylinder slides pro- 'vided with an arcuate passage on its surface and an intakeport movable into and out of register with the passage to be opened and closed by the block, said cylinder being provided with an exhaust port.

4. In a gas compressor 'for' circulatory refrigerating systems,. the combination with a base plate having a passage therethrough and a second plate parallel with the'base plate and provided with a discharge valve, of an oscillatory piston,Y

and a, reciprocatory Iand oscillatory cylinder block having opposite at faces confined between the two plates and provided with an intake port on one of them movable into and out of register with the passagefin the base plate to be opened and closed thereby and with an exhaust port on the other controlled by the valve on the second plate.

5. In a gas compressor for circulatory refrig- ,erating systems, the combination with a base plate having a passage therethrough and a second plate parallel with the base plate, of an oscillatory piston, a reciprocatory and oscillatory cylinder block having opposite flat faces conned between the two plates and provided with an intake port on one of them movable into and out of register with the passage in the base plate to be opened and closed thereby and with an exhaust port on the other, and a spring pressed valve on the second plate having an extended at surface providing a yielding bearing for the block and controlling the exhaust port.

6. In a gas compressor for circulatory refrigerating systems, the combination with a base plate having a passage therethrough and a second plate mounted on the first plate in parallelism therewith of a wrist pin extending between the A plates, an oscillatory piston mounted thereon, a reciprocatory and oscillatory cylinder block having opposite flat faces conned between the two plates and provided with an intake port on one of them movable into and out of register with the passage in the base plate to be opened and closed thereby and also provided with an exhaust port, and means controlling the exhaust port.

'7. In a gas compressor for circulatory refrigerating systems, the combination with a base plate having a passage therethrough and a second plate mounted on the first plate in parallelism therewith; of an oscillatory piston, a reciprocatory and oscillatory cylinder block having opposite at faces confined between the two plates and provided with an intake port on one of them movable into and out of register with the passage in the base plate to be opened and closedthereby and also provided with an exhaust port, means controlling the exhaust port, a crank shaft having a bearing in the second plate and having a crank pin connected to the cylinder block, and a motor supported on the said second plate for driving the shaft.

8. In a gas compressor for circulatory refrigerating systems, the combination with a piston and cylinder c'ouple having relative movement combining reciprocation of the one with oscillation of the other, the cylinder being provided with an exhaust port and an Iintake port, of a controlling means for each of said ports, a motor connectedv to move the couple relatively, said cylinder being also provided with a bypass port, a valve normally opening the bypass port while the compressor is at rest, and means operated by the motor upon the rst few revolutions thereof for actuating the valve to close the bypass port.

' 9. In a gas compressor for circulatory refrigerating systems, the combination with a piston and cylinder couple having relative movement combining reciprocation of the one with oscillation of the other, the cylinder being provided with an exhaust port, with an intake port and with a Ybypass port, of controlling means for the intake and exhaust ports, a motor connected to move the couple relatively, a source of oil supply, an oil pump connected therewith and operated by the motor,l and a valve for closing the bypass port actuated by the oil pump through the medium of the oil.

10. In a gas compressor for circulatory refrigerating systems, the combination with a plston and cylinder couple having relative movement combining reciprocation of the one with oscillation of the other, the cylinder being provided with an exhaust port, with an intake port and with a bypass chamber having a bypass, of controlling means for the intake and exhaust ports, a motor connected to move the couple relatively, a source of oil supply, an oil pump connected therewith and operated by the motor, and

a piston valve reciprocable in the bypass chamber for closing the bypass port and actuated by the oil pump through the medium of the oil.

`11. In a gas compressor for circulatory refrigerating systems, the combination with a piston and cylinder couple-having relative movement combining reciprocation of the one with oscillation of the other, the cylinder being provided with an exhaust port, with an intake port and with a bypass chamber having a bypass, of controlling means for the intake and exhaust ports, a motor connected to move the couple relatively, a source of oil supply, an oil pump connected therewith and operated by the motor to deliver to the bypass chamber, a piston valve in the latter for closing the bypass port by the pres'- sure from such oil, and a spring in the bypass chamber for returning'the piston valve'when the compressor is at rest. 1

12. In a gas compressor for circulatory refrigerating systems, the combination with a piston and cylinder couple having relative movement combining reciprocation of the one with oscillation of the other, the cylinder being prou vided with an exhaust port, with an intake port and with a bypass port, of controlling means for the intake and exhaust ports, a motor having a crank shaft connected to move the couple relatively, a source of oil supply, an oil pump connected therewith and operated by the motor and also connected to deliver to the crank shaft bearing, and a valve for the bypass port actuated by the pressure ofthe oil between the pump and said bearing.

13. In a gas compressor for circulatory refrigerating systems, the combination with an oscillatory compression piston, and a reciprocatory and oscillatory cylinder block cooperating therewith provided with an exhaust port, with an intake port, with a bypass port and with an oil pump cylinder chamber, of controlling means for the intake and exhaust ports, a motor connected to operate the cylinder. block relatively to the piston, a source of oil supply for the oil pump Acylinder chamber, an oscillating piston rod operating in the latter, and a valve for closing the bypass port actuated bythe oil pump through themedium of the oil.

14. In a gas compressor for circulatory refrigerating systems, the combination with an oscillatory compression piston, a reciprocatory and oscillatory cylinder block cooperating therewith provided withan exhaust port, with an intake port `and with an oil pump cylinder chamber, of controlling means for the intake and exhaust ports, a motor having a crank shaft connectedA to operate the cylinder block relatively to the piston, a source of oil supply for the oil pump cylinder chamber, ducts connecting the latter with the bearing of the crank shaft, and an oscillating piston rod operating'in the oil pump cylinder chamber.

' FREDERICK J. HEIDEMAN. 

